Iraq implements new voter registration plan in troubled provinces

[JURIST] Due to security concerns surrounding the upcoming January 30 elections, authorities in Iraq have agreed to let voters register and cast ballots on the same day in the troubled provinces of Anbar [Wikipedia article] and Ninawa [Wikipedia article]. The two provinces, home to the cities of Fallujah [BBC profile] and Mosul [Wikipedia article], have experienced numerous clashes between insurgents and US forces and questions have been raised as to whether voting would proceed there; earlier this week members of the local election commission in Anbar resigned en masse [JURIST report] and went into hiding. The chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq [official website], Abdul-Hussein Hendawi, said he expected a preliminary vote count late on January 30 with a final vote tally available within ten days. AP has more. BBC News offers a backgrounder on the Iraqi elections.

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